Your Excellency, My Father,
As the sun rises on 2nd June, I join Cross Riverians at home and abroad to celebrate a man whose presence in government has become a steadying force for our state. Today is not just about marking another year in your life. It is about recognizing the quiet, consistent way you have carried responsibility since you assumed office as Deputy Governor, working alongside Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Otu to steer Cross River toward stability and growth.
What I admire most about you is how you manage to remain human while handling the demands of leadership. The office can isolate anyone, but you have kept your doors open. You still listen. You still show up in places that don’t make headlines. From the hills of Obudu to the riverine areas of Bakassi, from the markets of Calabar South to the classrooms in Bekwarra, people feel that someone in power is paying attention. That kind of connection cannot be manufactured. It comes from a genuine regard for people.
Leadership, I’ve come to understand by watching you, is less about speeches and more about choices made when no one is watching. It is choosing patience over anger when things move slowly. It is choosing fairness over convenience when decisions are tough. It is choosing to build institutions rather than chase quick wins. Under your watch, I have seen a deliberate effort to strengthen systems that will outlive any administration. That is rare. Most people want their name on projects. You seem more concerned that the foundation will hold long after the paint fades.
Cross River is not an easy state to govern. We have diversity, history, and expectations that sometimes pull in different directions. Yet you and His Excellency the Governor Bassey Otu, have approached the task with a calm, collaborative spirit. You do not speak to divide. You do not act to exclude. Instead, you find room for dialogue, for correction, and for progress. In a time when many leaders are measured by noise, you are being measured by steadiness. And steadiness, over time, produces more results than noise ever will.
On a personal level, I am grateful for the example you set for those of us who are watching and learning. You have shown that it is possible to hold high office and still honor relationships. That one can be firm on principles and gentle in approach. That authority is best used to lift others, not to tower over them. Many young men and women in Cross River are quietly taking notes from how you carry yourself. The way you respect elders, encourage youth, and support women in governance sends a message louder than any policy document.
As you step into this new year of your life, I pray that God strengthens you in body, mind, and spirit. May the weight of responsibility never crush the joy in your heart. May wisdom continue to guide every decision, so that families across the 18 LGAs feel the impact of good governance in their daily lives. May your health remain robust, your home peaceful, and your vision for Cross River continue to take shape in ways that bless the next generation. May the seeds of kindness, patience, and integrity you plant daily come back to you as honor, protection, and testimonies that cannot be denied.
Happy Birthday, Your Excellency. Thank you for the example, thank you for the service, and thank you for reminding us that leadership can still be honorable. Cross River is fortunate to have you at this time. I am honored to add my voice to the thousands celebrating you today Daddy.
With deep respect and warm wishes Always.
Olom Solomon Abang
Writes From Calabar.
